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The
Very Good Gospelby Lisa Sharon Harper What we need in this world is a vision that reaches down
to the nitty gritty of broken relationships and brings healing, hope, and
dignity. Lisa Sharon Harper, chief
church engagement office at Sojourners (Jim Wallis) has written a hard hitting
and challenging book on the gospel and the way shalom enters our lives and the
lives of those around us. Her experience
with racial issues, injustice, and systemic brokenness gives her a trustworthy voice
in the way believers can bring healing to our world. What makes this book a real game changer for believers
and those interested in changing culture?
One, the gospel that Lisa promotes is one that is interested in the
impoverished, oppressed, and broken, not only those who are broken by their own
sin. The good news is not good news to
all if it is not reaching these groups of people. Second, Lisa centers her discussion of the
gospel around the concept of shalom, “for the emphatic goodness of all
r…

Subversive
Jesus by Craig Greenfield Have you ever considered what life would look like
on the wrong side of the tracks? In this
new book, Subversive Jesus by Craig Greenfield, Craig calls his readers to peer
into a life devoted to helping the messiest of people, from drug dealers to the
impoverished, from homeless to the abusers.
What is most amazing in his journey is that he takes Jesus’ call to love
the poor and to love his neighbor so seriously that he puts his family right
into the middle of these situations.
From Cambodia to Vancouver, this book is filled with eye opening
adventures, subversive ways of helping the hurting and seeking to release them
from the bondage of addictions. Yet, the
book is really a wake-up call to those living comfortably to think how God is
calling them to reach out to those all around them who they’ve never even met. Coming back from a trip to Cambodia for over six
month, Craig realizes something quite striking, he writes, “As I searched the
Scriptur…

Recently, I have been enjoying some different kind of beers that are worth mentioning on this site. I generally prefer the darker beers, stouts and porters, with a mix of brown ales in between. Yet, recently I have been branching out and trying a few IPA's. Here are some of the recent brews that you might also enjoy:

1. New Belgium- Out of these brews from New Belgium, the Rampant (Imperial IPA) and 1554 are very good indeed. If you are wary of IPA's but are willing to try one, Rampant is for you. 1554 is a black ale that has a smooth finish and a very robust flavor.

2. Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale- This is an excellent Scotch ale, and at 7.7 % ABV this is a wee bit on the heavy side. This Scotch Ale is very drinkable, with some coffee and chocolate notes. A comparable Scotch Ale to this one is put out by Founders, their Dirty Bastard is the best.

Running
on Red Dog Road by Drema Hall Berkheimer In the deep country of West Virginia, Drema Berkheimer
grew up under the strong guidance of Pentecostal grandparents who have some
experiences that you can’t quite believe.
This memoir, Running on Red Dog Road is replete with emotion, with the
pain of losing one’s father and trying to get along in the world, and a sense
of wonder at the pneumatic experiences of Pentecostal believers. From speaking in tongues to witnessing a
snake handler, Drema was enmeshed in a world that was drawn to the supernatural,
but what makes this book come to life is her experiences with the way in which
her grandparents lived. In chapter 6 Drema tells the story of how hobos would
often come to visit her grandparents.
She recounts this, “This time, he led the hobo to a stack of kindling
near the stump we used as a chopping block.
The man nodded and began to fill the wheelbarrow with the wood…Grandpa
always said that man that earned his own dinner could hol…

Evicted:
Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond Eviction is not an easy topic nor one many want to read
about, but Harvard Professor of the Social Sciences Matthew Desmond dives into
the subject in his new book entitled by the same name. Evicted:
Poverty and Profit in the American City takes a deep look into those being
evicted, landlords, and the history of how Milwaukee was at once a booming
place for good jobs but over time it gave way to poverty, crime, and
drugs. Desmond looks at the way
struggling members of Milwaukee, both in apartments and in mobile homes
struggle to make ends meet, often coming up with creative solutions to meet
their rents, working jobs for the landlords.
One example of this struggle to make rent is the story
of Lamar, a dishonorably discharged Navy veteran who lives in his small
apartment with his sons, playing cards at all hours of the night. Sharrena, Lamar’s landlord was betting on
Lamar making the cut for Supplemental Security Inc…

About Me

My name is Spencer Cummins. I have a wonderful wife and a sweet daughter. I live in O'Fallon, Missouri and serve at Grace PCA of St. Charles County. My passions are reading, writing, playing with family. My hope is that this blog will ignite a desire to serve Christ and to think biblically and theologically about God and his world.